Cruise with a toddler..

[Lunamoon23]

Hello!!
I'm looking for any advice or experience from anyone that's done a P&O cruise with a toddler I've been looking into booking one for March next year. (2026)
It will be a northern Europe cruise for seven days on board Iona. We did a cruise last year but with no kids and it was on arvia, although we saw lots of kids on the ship, of course we didn't spend a lot of time seeing kids activities or entertainment or even food because we were a group of adults.

Our little boy will be 15 months old at the time of the cruise and I'm just looking to see if anyone's done a cruise with a child around that age even better if it's specifically P&O cruise.
how did you find it?
How were the activities on board for a kids around that age? The food for kids? The cabin space (we're looking at Seaview cabin?) also bonus points if you're able to tell me if P&O provide a crib or whether we'd have to take a travel cot with us.

I like the idea of it being so easy we'd be sailing from Southampton which is about a three hour car journey from home and the simplicity of being able to arrive load your luggage on a trolley, and then you're basically on the ship, Your holiday begins and your luggage is taken to your cabin.
Sounds so much easier with a 15 month old then a car journey to an airport, parking, security, luggage, check in, waiting around at the gate, a flight and the same again the other side as well as transfers to your hotel, et cetera aswell as luggage restrictions.
It's also better value for money then a weeks holiday in Spain.

We'd also be travelling with my mum and stepdad so would have grandparents on hand to help out to. Possibly his auntie.

Thank you in advance x

I haven’t been on a cruise with a toddler but my nephew and family went on one last October which they loved. They have two children (two and five) and would really recommend it. Both children have dietary needs which were extremely well catered for. There were lots of activities, clubs and entertainment for children on board the ship. They didn’t go on any organisation trips but did their own thing. The downside was the size of the cabins, particularly the bathrooms. They also had the children’s grandparents with them, which helped. I am sure you will have a great time.

We’ve done P&O with small children, but not that young and not Iona.
P&O provides travel cots free. There is space in even the smallest of inside cabins for a travel cot. They come with a thin mattress and a sheet.
The kids menu is usually massive (things like fish fingers, spag bol, jelly, ice cream) or you can ask for a small portion of any dishes on the main menus. There are always plenty of foods such as bread, fruit and veg sticks. There’s also a special children’s tea at around 5 pm with things like pizza and sandwiches. There are plenty of high chairs available in the restaurants.
Milk (or SMA formula) can also be provided. Just call your cabin steward for warm or cold milk to be delivered to your cabin. If you ask for a large jug or carton, it can be kept in the fridge. Or you can help yourself to milk from the buffet.
We sailed on Britannia and our 2yo loved the shallow paddling pool in between the two main pools. He also loved the splash area. For children under 2, there’s a nursery but they can’t be left unattended there. I think it’s a mix of soft play and toys.

If you are on Facebook join some of the P&O groups. There are ones for each ship and also for each cruise. Also for families. You would gets lots of info on any of those